Holder for deodorant tablets

ABSTRACT

A HOLDER FOR ATTACHMENT TO THE WALL OF A URINAL, TOILET OR THE LIKE, WHICH IS ADAPTED TO HOLD DEODORIZING AND GERMICIDAL COMPOUNDS AND IS MOUNTED SO THAT INFLUENT WATER WILL BE INTRODUCED THEREINTO AND WILL BE DISCHARGED THEREFROM WITH A PORTION OF THE COMPOUNDS DISSOLVED THERRIN.

'" June 29, 1971 (PR/02 Am) F- H. BUCK, JR

HOLDER FOR DEODORANT TABLETS Filed Sept. 9, 1969 Sin 0 SYSTEM 0e CESSPOOL INV N EYS United States Paten 3,588,926 HOLDER FOR DEODORANT TABLETS Fred H. Buck, Jr... Boonton Township, Morris County, N.J., assignor to Arrowhead Industries, Morris, NJ. Continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 830,762, June 5, 1969. This application Sept. 9, 1969, Ser.

rm. c1. E0341 9/02 US. (ll. 4231 15 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A holder for attachment to the wall of a urinal, toilet or the like, which is adapted to hold deodorizing and germicidal compounds and is mounted so that influent water will be introduced thereinto and will be discharged therefrom with a portion of the compounds dissolved therein.

The present invention is a continuation-in-part of abandoned application 830,762 filed June 5, 1969, and relates to deodorizing and germicidal compounds for toilets and urinals and more particularly, to a holder which is to be attached to a urinal or toilet that is designed to contain the deodorizing or germicidal compounds. The holder may be positioned so that the water introduced into the toilet bowl or urinal from the water tank or the like will flow into and out of the holder, passing over the deodorizing and/or germicidal compounds or it may be positioned so that a portion of the toilet tank or bowl water will enter the holder and remain there for an extended period of time. Naturally, a portion of the deodorizing and/or germicidal compounds will thereby be introduced into the water stream.

In one presently available structure for introducing deodorizing and germicidal compounds into the fluid system of a toilet the compounds are positioned adjacent the toilet bowl surface so that influent water will be passed thereover. The compound is suspended from the toilet bowl ridge and extends downwardly therefrom. This type of structure has many inherent disadvantages. Firstly, it is very attractive to children and constitutes a health hazard when handled.

Additionally, when such a prior art structure is utilized, its effectiveness is high at the beginning of its period of use and is very low at the end thereof since the surface area of the compound varies greatly. As a result it is impossible to achieve a uniform degree of effectiveness. At the end of this period of use, either an additional holder must be inserted on the bowl rim or the remainder of the existing tablet discarded and replaced with a new tablet, the latter option being uneconomical since it results in waste.

Such a structure also has the inherent disadvantage that when new deodorant and/ or germicidal means are introduced into the toilet area a wholly new holder must be utilized. After use, this holder which is in usable condition, must be discarded and this waste is uneconomical and undesirable.

Since water passes through this prior art structure for only a small amount of time, the extent of dissolution is slight. This inadequate dissolution problem has not previously been solved by the prior art structures. Also such structures are difficult to utilize in urinals as compared to toilets.

In another prior art technique, tablets are placed in the bottom of and adjacent to the outlet of a urinal and this is undesirable in that maintenance employees have to handle the tablet when removing any debris accumulating in the base of the urinal.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a holder for deodorizing or germicidal compounds, tablets or bars, which will be unobtrusive in the toilet structure.

It is another object to provide a holder whereby no interference will result with the cleaning operation of the toilet or urinal.

It is further an object to provide a holder which will assure a substantially uniform rate of introduction into the water stream of the decompositional or germicidal composition.

It is a further object to provide a holder which can be easily refilled without dismantling so as to achieve efiicient and clean utilization.

It is a further object to provide a holder which can be installed entirely below the rim of the toilet bowl or below the influent water passages of a urinal or the like or can be installed in the toilet tank area.

Further objects and advantageous features of the present invention will become apparent from the following drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art holder in operable position;

FIG. 2 is a partial sectional and a partial elevational view of the holder constructed in accordance with the teaching of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 showing the holder of FIG. 2 in the operable position;

FIG. 4 is a view taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the holder made in accordance with the teaching of the present invention in operable position on a urinal;

.FIG. 6 is a partial view of the toilet structure as illustrated in FIG. 3, cut away to show the holder in another application.

The holder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention is particularly shown in FIGS. 24. As best seen in FIG. 2, the holder 20 which is fabricated from a single piece of plastic or the like material is molded to the desired configuration and is constituted of two basic components: rectangular boxlike portion 21 having an open top and back and a relatively flexible flange portion 22 integral with both the side and bottom portions of the recangular portion 21. A pressure sensitive adhesive carrying tape 25 which is water resistant is placed on the two flange side sections 23 whereas none is present on the transverse bottom flange section or portion 24.

As seen in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5, the tape 25 can serve to attach the holder to the wall of the bowl 12 or urinal, above the water collecting means normal water level 18 or can serve to attach the holder to the interior toilet tank wall at least partially below the normal tank water level, (FIG. 6) or similarly to the toilet bowl. At the same time, the thickness of the tape 25 serves to insure that there will be a spacing at the bottom of the holder between the bottom section 24 and the adjacent wall of the bowl or urinal. When the holder is attached to the toilet tank Wall as in FIG. 6, water will be both introduced into the container and discharged therefrom as the tank is filled and then subsequently emptied. When the holder is attached as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5 water will be introduced thereinto at the top thereof from the toilet tank 11 or other water supply means 11 indirectly through the bowl rim channel 16 and bowl rim apertures 17. This water will immediately, but at a rate less than the introduction rate, be discharged from portion 21 through the bottom opening. In many instances there is no normal water level in urinals or the like and in this instance, the normal water level will be the bottom of the urinal receptacle. It should be apparent that the water passes over the deodorizing and/or germicidal compound 26 posi- 3 tioned within the container 20 and a portion thereof is dissolved by the water, the latter being discharged from the container through the opening 27 established between the bottom section 24 and the adjacent toilet bowl wall.

By utilizing a holder, in applications as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, having a substantial shape, a substantial volume of influent water will be therein collected. Since the opening established between the bottom section 24 of the flange 22 and the bowl or urinal wall is of relatively small size, the discharge of the water with the deodorizing and/ or germicidal component dissolved therein will be slower than the influx of the water from the urinal or toilet tank. The differential between inlet and outlet flow provides an extended period of time in which the material contained in the holder will be in contact with this water and therefore increases the amount of component that can dissolve into the water flowing through the holder This insures that more of such material will be introduced into the system and this is highly desirable.

It is undesirable for this volume of water which temporarily accumulates in the holder to be so great as to massively overflow the holder with the possible result of large portions of the deodorizing and/ or germicidal compounds being carried out of the holder with the water flow. Therefore, by utilizing tablets or the like having relatively small size these tablets can be added to the holder until the influent water accumulation approaches but does not exceed the upper boundaries of the holder.

Additionally being able to utilize a plurality of tablets or the like having small size, the effective surface area of the tablets will be significantly greater than would be the surface area of a single bar of equal weight to the plurality of tablets. This provides means for achieving higher effectiveness with the utilization of small amounts of the deodorizing and/or germicidal compounds and therefore enables the utilization of a small less obtrusive holder.

To increase the discharge rate the bottom flange portion 24 may be cut as illustrated in FIG. 2 by dotted line 28. Since the bottom 29 of the box-like portion 21 is inclined (approximately 7) with respect to the horizontal, as shown, the weight of the tablets will then urge this weakened bottom flange section 24 away from the toilet or urinal wall 12 and this sagging of the bottom flange portion 24 will result in a larger separation between the wall 12 and the holder 20 thereby increasing the discharge rate.

Additional openings 19 may be selectively made in the bottom of the box-like portion 21 whereby a more rapid discharge of water from the container may be accomplished.

Whereas a rate of cleansing and deodorization can be established, when the holder is attached to the urinal wall or is attached to the toilet bowl above the water level, which will be a direct function of urinal or toilet usage (FIGS. 3 and 5) the holder can be positioned, either to be partially or entirely below the Water surface of the toilet tank (as shown in FIG. 6) or toilet bowl, and yet excellent cleansing and deodorization activity can be obtained with the utilization of slower acting (dissolving) compounds. It is advisable when so attaching the holder made in accordance with the teachings of the present invention to wipe the wall surface clean before attaching the holder by pressing the pressurized tape thereto.

One of the most significant features of the present structure can best be explained when reference is made to the structure of the prior art shown in FIG. 1 which has previously been discussed. After such a structure has been in operation for a period of time, the external surface area of the deodorizing and/or germicidal bar becomes very much diminished. As a result, very little deodorizing means is introduced into the surrounding environment and very little germicidal means can be introduced into the sewerage system. The remainder of the tablet must then be removed and replaced with a new tablet, or a new additional holder must be installed in order to bring the degree of eifectiveness of the holder to the desired level.

The presently preferred embodiment of the holder made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in a urinal application in FIG. 5.

In FIG. 5 a holder 20 as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 4 is shown in operable position on the wall 12' of a urinal 10'. In a urinal water enters by means of a valve 11' which serves the function of a toilet tank 11 and passes through apertures 17 positioned at the top of the urinal, the water then flows down the urinal Wall 12' into the bottom of the urinal 18' where it is immediately discharged therefrom. The holder 20 can be adhesively attached to any portion of the urinal wall 12'. The lower the position of attachment on conventional urinals, the smaller the volume of water that will be introduced thereinto. Therefore by varying the placement position of the holder the volume of water temporarily collected can be adjusted. When water overflows from the attached holder the holder can therefore be lowered and/ or the bottom flange portion can be trimmed as aforestated to thereby reduce the water introduced thereinto or the water inlet valve of the urinal can be partially closed.

It occasionally will be necessary to first apply a plastic decal to the wall of the urinal in those situations where the urinal wall surface is poor due to cracking or other defects arising from long usage. The decal, due to its large size compared to the adhesive strips of the holder is easy to permanently afiix to the wall and then the holder can be affixed thereto.

What is claimed is:

l. A holder for use with a toilet or urinal, said holder having interconnected at least at the front thereof bottom and side portions whereby a receptacle will be established at least when the holder is attached to a wall portion of the toilet or urinal with the wall of the toilet or urinal defining the back wall portion of said holder, the receptacle being open at the top whereby germicidal and deodorizing means can be introduced thereinto, means integral with at least one of said front, bottom and side portions and defining a surface facing said toilet or urinal wall portion when the holder is attached to said wall portion, means on said surface means for adhesively attaching said holder to said wall portion of the toilet or urinal and passage means communicating between the interior and the exterior of the holder when the holder is attached to said wall portion and thereby permitting the outflow and inflow of water from and into the receptacle.

2. A holder for use with a toilet or urinal according to claim 1 wherein said passage means is of such a size as to reduce the flow rate of the Water passing through and out of said holder.

3. A holder for use with a toilet or urinal according to claim 1 wherein said attaching means is pressure sensitive adhesive.

4. A holder for use with a toilet or urinal according to claim 1, in which said passage means comprises a bottom flange extending downwardly and spaced from said wall portion of said toilet or urinal, said spacing forming said passage.

5. A holder for use with a toilet or urinal according to claim 1 in which said passage means comprises at least one aperture in said bottom portion.

6. A holder according to claim 1, in which said passage means is adjacent to said bottom portion of said holder.

7. A holder according to claim 6, in which said passage means is in said bottom portion of said holder.

8. A holder according to claim 1, in which said attaching means comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

9. A holder according to claim 1, in which said surface defining means comprises a flange extending laterally from each of said side portions.

10. A holder for use with a toilet or urinal according to claim 9 wherein said flanges are relatively flexible to permit the holder to be aflixed to non-planar surfaces.

11. A holder according to claim 1, in combination with decal means having substantially larger surface area than said attaching means.

12. A holder according to claim 1, in combination with a toilet or urinal.

13. A holder for use with a toilet or urinal, comprising means for retaining germicidal and deodorant means at least when the holder is attached to a wall portion of the toilet or urinal, means defining a surface facing said wall portion when the holder is attached to said wall portion and means on said surface means for adhesively attaching said holder to said wall portion.

14. A holder according to claim 13, in which said attaching means comprises a pressure sensitive adhesive.

15. A holder according to claim 14, in combination with a toilet or urinal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 649,826 5/1900 Eldred 2393 6X 1,064,961 6/ 1913 Carmelich 4-231 1,083,561 1/1914 Rising 4-231X 1,210,650 1/1917 Hunt 4--231 2,034,619 3/1936 Hoffman 423l 2,615,754 10/ 1952 Lindenberg 2393 6X 2,626,833 1/1953 Valentine 239-36X FOREIGN PATENTS 215,931 10/1931 Australia 4-231 937,640 1/1956 Germany 4231 LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner D. B. MASSENBERG, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 4228 

